Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-03

LETTRR.-THE COMMISSIONERS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE
FOR IT-THE CIVIL SERVICE MUST BE DIVORCED
FROM POLITICS.
Civil-Serv1ce Commissioner Oberly, in conversa-
tion with STAR reporter to-day, said he hadiread
the resolutions Of the Ohio Democratic Associa-
t1on in regard to his recent letter. He reiterated
what he had said before, that the associations
should level their guns upon the law and not up
on him.
A NEW ORDER OF THINGS
''Now," he remarked, ''some OF the people seem
to forget that we are living under new order OF
things in regard to the subordinate governmental
service. Under the old order, wherein the Govern
eaeTn was az s tas 2.
rendered, 1t was expected that he should labor to
continue the tenure OF his influence as 1t was
place. But under the existing regime we are
seeking to do away with this system of politics
dominating the public service. Formerly 1t was
the rule for the dominant party to hold all the
omceS Now we are endeavoring to distribute the
minor Offices among both parties, and assure the
republican clerk that under democratic adminis-
tration his place Is
SECURE so LONG AS he BEHAVES HIMSELF
and discharges his duty. II democratic clerks
have the right to band together and raise money
70 carry Ohio for their party, then republican
clerks have as much right to combine and send
money to Ohio to prevent It's being carried by the
democrats, and under the civil l-service law the Of
nclal who would discharge republican clerk for
imprisonment. Now, should the republican clerks
raise money for use in Ohio, what would these
democrats who now aSSail me say? Wouldn't they
clamor for the immediate dismissal OF those repub
ncan clerks?
WHEN THE DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION CAME IN
all the republican State associations disbanded.
II the right OF democratic of1cials to combine for
partisan purposes is recognized, would 1t not be
entirely legitimate for republicans in the event OF
q change Of administration, to then combine? And
they would say: these democratic clerks were
active partiSanS, and we demand their removal
We are laborng to relieve the public service from
these partisan influences and put it upon
A BUSINESS BASIS,
That is the object OF the law, and believe in en-
forcing it. These State associations, composed
entirely Of public or1cials will always be source
OF political irritation AS I've said before the law
has nothing to do with associations like that
OF Virginia and those OF Maryland, COM
posed mainly of nOn-Office- holders Nor Is
there any interpretation OF the law that forbids
q Government clerk contributing his money for
political purposes His right to do so is recognized
and he Is protected by the law In so doing But he
must not combine with other public officials for
these partisan ends"
THE LETTER NOT SUBMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT.
In regard to the published report that his letter
to the Illinois association was submitted to and
approved by the President, Commissioner Oberly
said:
''That is not true I did not write it until the
afternoon OF the day on which 1t was sent to the
Illinois association. 1t was not submitted to the
President or to anybody else assume the entire
responsibility for 1t, and am ready to stand by II
as correctly setting forth the letter and the spirit
OF the law which am sworn to enforce"